Although I spotted a single Snow Goose yesterday, flying in formation with what ended up being 226 Canada Geese, birding has been slow at best.
With the warm weather, open water, and bare ground, only a handful of regular yard birds have been coming to the feeders. Walking has been a bit better...made it down the driveway and back...alive! ....yesterday, but still don't dare try for the hills and fields. Frozen, greasy, mud tussocks aren't much better than ice on bad knees, alas.
However, this morning, after last night's combination of sleet, snow, and freezing rain, the feeders were packed. I had to finish the Farm Side so I only did a tiny count, but as soon as it brightens up a bit I am going out again. The winter sparrows were back...I thought they might already have started moving north, as I hadn't seen a White-throated in over a week. Guess they were just partaking of wild seeds and such because they were here again. 40 Goldfinches, and two male Cardinals in all that snow! Gorgeous!
Anyhow, after all the mud, it almost nice to see the white stuff clinging to the trees and sticking to the ground.
***Update: went out to see if the geese were coming off the river and got a Great-Blue Heron and a Rough-legged Hawk. The latter is a pretty big deal for me, having not seen one in a very long time.
 |
| Nature's QR code |
YAY! For the bird count. I still haven't got to get out and get you a crane photo, but it is on my todo list!
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda, thanks, it was accepted by eBird too, even though I don't have a photo. Made my day! I keep looking at every single large bird flyover, hoping for cranes. I have friends who have seen them....
ReplyDelete" . . . the feeders were packed."
ReplyDeleteI miss my feeders so much. We've headed south for a while.
Hope that knee is behaving.
Cathy, good birds this winter! Not great, but good, and plenty of them. Sorry you are missing your home feeders....I hope you are getting to see some good birds there in the south. I sure do love our trips down there to see what we can see. And I love the sea, the ocean, the Gulf, the beaches. Not for sunning, but for seeing! And hearing! And feeling, walking the packed sand at the edge with the little waves lapping up at our ankles. Finding shells and gulls and pelicans and jelly fish....It is a real love affair, if pretty much unrequited.
ReplyDeleteKnee is kinda, sorta, if I am careful, okay. A lot more okay than I thought it ever would be for sure. I am wildly grateful and very careful. thanks!